Apollo 13 collectibles

Apollo 13 collectibles are items - including memorabilia, medals, manuscripts and other varieties of collectible – related to man’s third mission to the Moon. The journey of Jim Lovell, Jack Swigert and Fred Haise was famously thwarted when an oxygen tank exploded during Apollo 13’s journey from Earth.

The crew returned to Earth safely after orbiting the Moon. The mission is often termed a ‘successful failure’ in reference to the crew’s bravery and survival.

Collectible legacy

Today, Apollo 13 remains popular among collectors – partly due to the overall popularity of space collectibles, and also due to the mission’s ‘disaster element’ (much like Titanic collectibles).

Notable sales

Manuscripts

Models

Famously, the descent engine aboard Apollo 13 enabled the crew to change their flight plan and return safely to Earth. A wood, plastic and metal model of the engine sold at Bonhams' July 2009 space sale for $5,185.

‘Aquarius’ identification plate

The most valuable piece of Apollo 13 memorabilia to-date is from the Apollo 13 module itself: the flown lunar module spacecraft identification plate.

Aquarius was mission’s lunar module, which became a "lifeboat" that literally saved the astronauts' lives. Because Aquarius wasn’t equipped with a heat shield to withstand Earth’s atmosphere on re-entry, it was jettisoned into space.